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Destination BC Directions: April 8, 2022
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Lakefront cabins at the Northern Rockies Lodge on Muncho Lake, BC (Northern BC Tourism/Andrew Strain).
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The campaign is now live in Ontario & California! Visit the campaign landing page to learn more (Destination BC/Kari Medig).
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The BC Effect Campaign Update: Now Live in Ontario and California!
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In case you missed it, The BC Effect is a comprehensive $6.7M global marketing campaign designed to drive emotional urgency and encourage travel to BC in 2022 and into 2023 from key international and domestic long-haul markets. The campaign inspires global audiences to tap into something bigger, awaken a deeper connection, gain a different perspective, and find themselves–in every sense of the word–all within British Columbia.
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Destination BC BCTHC Presentation
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Watch Destination BC's 2022 BC Tourism & Hospitality Conference Presentation as our staff and guest speakers share the inspiring work that's being done to support our industry through the challenges we’re experiencing and the success we are all aspiring for, including:
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Marketing Plans to build back travel to BC, now
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The Invest in Iconics strategy, to generate stronger interest in future travel to all areas of BC
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Lasting, Meaningful Reconciliation
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Destination Stewardship, to ensure tourism is managed well for all British Columbians
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Destination Development and Emergency Response
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Destination BC's presentation at the 2022 BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference is now available for online viewing.
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Read more to find out where to view a recap of the broadcasts.
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Destination BC Hosts Australia’s Sunrise TV for Live On-Location Broadcasts
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From March 26-31, Destination BC hosted Australia’s Sunrise TV morning show (7 Network) for a series of live broadcasts from several BC locations, including Emerald Lake Lodge, Vancouver, Victoria, and Whistler. Weatherman Sam McMillan took viewers along an epic Western Canadian journey through the Rockies, into Vancouver and Whistler, and ending in Victoria, showcasing quintessential BC experiences along the way.
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Congratulations to the Winners of the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast 'Spark' Program
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Destination BC would like to congratulate the following three winners of the 2021/22 Cariboo Chilcotin Coast 'Spark' Program:
• Cheryl Macarthy & Dave Jorgenson – Historic Stays,
• Alex Bracewell - Bracewell Alpine Wilderness Adventures, and
• Erin Yeo & Kelly Servinski – Tutti Gravel Inn.
Well done on your successful virtual pitches! Each winner will receive a $3000 seed grant, mentorship, plus additional partner support to help take their new tourism initiatives and businesses to the next level.
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Stay tuned for updates on the development these exciting new tourism experiences and offerings in the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast.
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BC Residents' concern for welcoming visitors at lowest point since May 2020
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Destination BC’s latest Resident Perception report shows that BC residents concern for welcoming visitors from all areas is at the lowest point since tracking began in May 2020.
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This report is released every month to track BC Residents' tourism opinions and intentions, and watch how results trend over time.
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This report summarizes the various research findings from Destination BC, suppliers, other tourism agencies and associations.
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BC sees 21% increase in weekly domestic overnight visitation compared to 2019
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Destination BC’s latest Research Roundup report shows that BC saw an increase of 21% in weekly domestic overnight visitation compared to the same period in 2019.
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Tourism Industry Dashboard: Year in Review
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Full 2021 data is now available on our Tourism Industry Dashboard, which includes key tourism statistics such as international visitor arrivals data, provincial room revenue, commercial restaurant receipts, provincial and regional occupancy rates and average daily room rates, and more.
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This dashboard is best viewed on a desktop device.
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Upon porgram completion, participants will be qualified to work in a range of positions in the hospitality industry (BC Gov Flickr).
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Indigenous Tourism Training Takes off on Haida Gwaii
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More than a dozen people will soon get new skills training to prepare them for jobs in the hospitality sector. Through a new provincial Community and Employer Partnerships (CEP) project intended for Indigenous people, up to 16 individuals will receive employment skills to prepare them for careers in hospitality on Haida Gwaii.The Province is providing more than $250,000 in funding to the Haida Nation’s economic development corporation, Haida Enterprise Corporation (HaiCo), to deliver skills and certification courses.
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Historic Action Plan Guides UNDRIP Implementation in BC
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The Province is releasing the Declaration Act Action Plan, developed in consultation and co-operation with Indigenous Peoples, outlining 89 specific actions every ministry in government will take to create a better province for Indigenous Peoples in BC. BC is the first province to release an action plan dedicated to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UN Declaration) in Canada. The plan was developed with Indigenous Peoples, First Nations and organizations though intensive consultation. This engagement ensures the plan reflects the priorities of Indigenous Peoples - First Nations, Métis and Inuit - living in BC.
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For more information on the Declaration Act, download a copy of the action plan.
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Download Budget 2022 and read the section on Support for Canada’s Tourism Sector.
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Government of Canada Releases Budget 2022
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On April 7, the Government of Canada released Budget 2022: A Plan to Grow Our Economy and Make Life More Affordable. The new budget outlines a plan for targeted and responsible investments to create jobs and prosperity, and build a stronger economic future for all Canadians. Budget 2022 included several pieces that will benefit Canada’s tourism industry directly, including plans for developing new tourism policy, funding for Indigenous Tourism growth and Trans-Canada Trails investment.
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Government of Canada Announces Changes to the Temporary Foreign Work Program
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The federal government has announced a series of changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TWF) program to address labour shortages across Canada. Some changes take effect immediately and others begin on April 30. A few key highlights include:
• Labour Market Impact Assessments will be valid for 18 months (instead of 9 months currently).
• During the next year, employers in the Accommodation and Food Services sector, will be allowed to hire low-wage temporary foreign workers up to 30% of their FTE positions. After one year, that percentage will drop to 20%.
• Seasonal Cap Exemption is now permanent.
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The TFW Program allows employers in Canada to hire a foreign worker when no Canadians or permanent residents are available.
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Government of Canada and Industry Announce New Environmental Measures for Cruise Ships
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As Canada welcomes cruise ships back to its waters, the Government of Canada, in coordination with industry, announced new environmental measures for cruise ships in Canadian waters that exceed international standards. For the 2022 season, cruise operators will implement stricter environmental measures. These measures will better protect Canada’s oceans and the marine environment and will support the work that is underway to conserve 25 percent of Canada’s oceans by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030.
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Transport Canada focuses on passenger & environmental safety while promoting tourism & economic growth (Destination Vancouver/Albert Normandin).
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Read more about the eligibility criteria, eligible expenses, and application process.
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CanExport SME Funding - To Support International Marketing
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To help tourism businesses prepare for international markets, the CanExport SME program is now accepting new applications for programs starting after April 1, 2022. The program focuses on export marketing activities of existing products and services in foreign markets. The funding program is now available to tourism businesses who cater to international visitors, and may partially cover a variety of marketing, advertising and other related expenses. Small and medium sized companies may access up to $50,000 in funding to assist with international market development activities.
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Our Learning Centre provides access to resources and tools, best practices, workshops, and training programs for BC’s tourism industry.
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What Makes a Website Effective?
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The #1 most important digital asset your organization needs in today’s world is a website. So, what makes a great website and how can you set yours apart from the rest? We’ve put together some key items to focus on to help you make sure your website stands out.
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Visit the Learning Centre to learn why in many cases, your website is the the first ‘digital’ impression your organization will make (Unsplash).
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Prior to 2020, YXX had increased in passenger volume five years in a row starting in 2015 (The Abbotsford News website).
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Abbotsford International Airport Breaks Half-Million Passenger Mark for 2021
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After a significant decrease in numbers in 2020, the Abbotsford International Airport bounced back and reached the half-million passenger mark for 2021. Recently released numbers from Destination BC calculated a total of 511,391 passengers arriving at YXX, which was an increase of 59.7 per cent from 2020’s total of 315,578.
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Cariboo Chilcotin Coast and Kootenay Rockies are Now Biosphere Certified Destinations!
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Kootenay Rockies Tourism and Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association have joined the Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association as Biosphere Certified Destinations through the Responsible Tourism Institute (RTI). These regions are among only a select few destinations worldwide to achieve this status. Congratulations to both organizations on achieving this designation!
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Read more about this tourism sustainability designation and the founding principles of sustainability and continuous improvement.
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Auckland is also back on Air Canada’s map, with three flights a week from November 10.
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Air Canada boosts Sydney-Vancouver to 10 Flights Weekly
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With travel confidence continuing to improve in 2022, Air Canada will ramp up its Sydney-Vancouver flights as of May 1 to ten weekly return flights during the peak travel period of June 6 to September 5. The additional flights will depart Sydney on Monday, Thursday, and Saturday at 1:40pm to make it easier for travellers from outside Sydney who need a connecting domestic flight before winging their way to Vancouver. Air Canada will also bring back direct Brisbane-Vancouver flights beginning July 1.
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Ultra-Affordable Lynx Air Takes Off
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Canada's new ultra-affordable airline, Lynx Air, took to the skies this week with its inaugural flight from Calgary to Vancouver. Lynx operates a fleet of three brand-new Boeing 737 aircraft and will ramp up quickly over the coming weeks. The airline's next destination will be to Toronto on Monday April 11. It will add Kelowna to its network starting April 15, Winnipeg starting April 19 and Victoria starting May 12.
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The airline will add two more aircraft to its fleet in the coming months, allowing further network expansion leading up to summer.
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The first cruise ship of the season will call at the Port of Vancouver on April 10, 2022, after a two-year pause to cruising in Canada (Destination Vancouver/Al Harvey).
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Cruise Returns to Port of Vancouver
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The 2022 cruise season at the Port of Vancouver launches on April 10, 2022, with the inaugural visit of the Holland America Line ship, Koningsdam, to the Canada Place cruise terminal at the Port of Vancouver. In preparation for the return of cruise, the port authority, along with cruise lines and industry partners, has been working closely with Transport Canada to follow federal government guidance on the latest public health plans and regulations. Under Transport Canada requirements, cruise passengers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and test negative for COVID-19 before boarding the ship.
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Upcoming Webinars from Small Business BC
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Small Business BC provides practical business webinars and online education to develop business skills and strategy.
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Destination BC has partnered with Small Business BC to offer free access for tourism business stakeholders across the province to online education supporting COVID-19 recovery. Upcoming webinars include 'Online Lead Generation for Small Business' (Apr 20) and 'Market Research for Your Business Package' (Apr 20 & 27). To access the webinars free of charge, register online using coupon code DBC3034.
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The resulting reports will be shared with local stakeholders and BestCities members and the industry at large (Destination Vancouver/Sara Borck Photography).
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Destination Vancouver and Capilano University Launches Unique Event Legacy Research Study
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Destination Vancouver and Capilano University have announced a partnership marking the launch of a unique course of research designed to quantify the tangible and intangible impacts, benefits and legacies associated with Vancouver’s role as host city for international conferences, congresses and events. This research will look at Vancouver’s conference experience and be led by a team from Capilano University’s School of Tourism Management’snew Centre for Tourism Research.
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Rainbow Registered Accreditation
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Rainbow Registered is a nationally recognized safe space accreditation program developed by Canada’s LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC), Tourism HR Canada and their partners, with the aid of the Federal government, that recognizes Canadian businesses and organizations that
are LGBT+ inclusive. The Rainbow Registered accreditation helps customers, clients, partners and prospective employees to identify LGBT+ friendly businesses and organizations, while enabling those businesses and organizations to demonstrate their commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience.
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Review the Rainbow Registered guidelines to learn more about the certification program.
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Register for this free information session!
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Hiring with EDI in Mind: A Webinar & Resources
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Is your organization striving for a broader understanding of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) and how hiring in general can support your goals? Join Talent MATCH and Talent 4 Non-Profits on Tuesday, April 26th at 3:00pm (PST) via Zoom as they welcome Akanksha Thakur (she/her), the Project Lead for ACE-WIL’s EDI Resource Hub and the EDI Program Manager at TransLink. The session will highlight the barriers that employers and student-employees face, and the resources available in response—including tips on inclusive job postings, interviewing, information on accessibility, and more.
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Silver Star Resort Association Launches Destination Silver Star
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The Silver Star Resort Association (SSRA) has launched the community and consumer-focused face of their brand - Destination Silver Star. With community as its guiding principle, Destination Silver Star has a fresh new website full of engaging My Silver Star digital stories as well as the announcement of a series of summer activities. Destination Silver Star exists to maintain and enhance the Silver Star experience by growing the local economy, and increasing engagement through marketing, sales, media relations, events, research, and destination development.
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Founded in 2021, Destination Silver Star is a non-profit, membership-based organization (Destination Silver Star website).
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Learn more and request your free consultation session on the FortisBC website.
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FortisBC Small Business Support Program
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To help support small and medium-sized businesses in BC in the recovery from the challenges of COVID-19, FortisBC has partnered with GreenStep Solutions to provide free customized energy advice to participating businesses. You can get tips, technical advice and information that can help you save energy, greenhouse gas emissions and operating costs.
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Destination BC COVID-19 Communications
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Here's how to stay connected on the latest from Destination BC:
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If you have questions that can't be answered through the various resources on our website and official channels, please send them to [email protected] and we will work to address them.
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